Richard Graham: why apprenticeships are vital to the county
BEFORE the General Election, as a Conservative Party candidate, I visited companies in Gloucester who regularly told me of the value and importance of apprenticeships.
They convinced me apprentices are an idea of the past whose time had come again.
This week is National Apprenticeship week and no better time for all MPs to champion Apprenticeships.
Since May 2010 I have twice secured Westminster Hall debates on apprentices and helped organise the Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Fair with the National Apprenticeship Service in 2011, alongside regular jobs fairs and this year's Gloucestershire Apprenticeships 'SkillsFest'.
Apprenticeships work because they're good for the country, lower youth unemployment, good for companies, cost effective growth, and good for the individual, earning while learning.
By the end of this year we will have half a million apprentices starting nationally– a huge new army of talent and aspiration.
In Gloucester we've seen 50 per cent growth in apprenticeships since 2009 with 1,020 new apprentices starting in the last year, it's good news that Gloucester based companies as diverse as Avon Metals, Target Catering, Allcooper and Barclays Bank are now offering or will very shortly start offering apprenticeships.
And just as importantly, Gloucestershire as a whole has also seen a 50 per cent growth in apprenticeships, this is key as there are many valuable employers outside the city boundaries employing Gloucester residents.
The government is right to focus now on higher apprenticeships – moving from 20 to 2,000 in a short space of time through the £6 million Higher Apprenticeship Fund to create thousands of new higher level apprenticeships in sectors like aerospace, engineering and renewable technologies.
And it is right to provide incentives (£1,500 each) for SME companies to take on an apprentice.
Business now sees the transformational power of apprenticeships: this week will see Barclays and major banks announce their plans to hire large numbers of apprentices – I first discussed this idea with Barclays when I opened their new branch in Southgate Street and later raised it during a debate in Parliament.
There is no reason why the insurance sector can't do the same and even services like accountancy.
MPs can do the same too.
I was one of the first to employ an apprentice, now doing an NVQ3 in Business Admin, and the Minister has promised to host a party for the first 100 MPs' apprentices.
Increasing growth and reducing youth unemployment are defining issues of today.
Apprenticeships are not the complete answer but they are a critical part of it.
Every MP and every employer should consider one.
20 Comments
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by TimMessanger
Monday, February 20 2012, 9:21PM
“SLAVE LABOUR I think?
£2.60 - the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship!
Would YOU work for £2.60 per hour? 38 hours a week = £98.80
£98.80 @ £6.08 per hour = 15.25 hours!
If you work fewer than 16 hours (From the CAB website)
If you work fewer than 16 hours a week, you may be able to claim Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance. However, if you have a partner who lives with you and works 24 hours a week or more, you will not be able to claim these benefits. Your partner may be able to claim Working Tax Credit instead (see under heading Working Tax Credit). This applies whether your partner is lesbian, gay or heterosexual and whether you are married, in a civil partnership or just living together.
You could also be entitled to some Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit to help with the costs of rent and Council Tax. If you have children, you can claim Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit. You can get these benefits whether or not you do any work. You may also be able to get help such as free prescriptions, free school meals, help with the costs of a new baby or help with funeral costs, depending on the benefits or tax credits you get and your income.
City & Guilds allocated more than £8m for 25,000 Asda apprentices http://tinyurl.com/7cyefe5”
by Tim_Davenport
Monday, February 20 2012, 2:12PM
“Library_Loser you're right! it's outragous that someone should visit a recently widowed wife to check they are ok!
Who really cares about this!
Dragging up articles 2 years afterwards is getting a little sad isn't it??”
by Library_User
Monday, February 20 2012, 1:43PM
“Richard Graham could do with the services of an apprentice traffic warden - http://tinyurl.com/5u5tazu”
by Sheba2010
Monday, February 20 2012, 1:27PM
“tomadeit - say the answers come back 30%, 60% and 10% what would you then do with the figures? They would only be relevant if compared to an alternative such as further/uni education.”
by tommadeit
Monday, February 20 2012, 12:31PM
“I would really like Mr. Graham to provide the following figures - the number of Apprentices who have not gone through the full Apprenticeship, the percentage of apprentices who have sustained employment after the apprenticeship and the companies that have taken on apprentices following making older people in comparable jobs redundant. I also agree that this scheme will be unpaid very soon and called internship - a posh name for work experience.”
by Sheba2010
Monday, February 20 2012, 10:56AM
“Lbrary User - just because he/she is employed by an MP does not mean he/she is apprenticed to become one. He/she will have a qualification in business administration which, like many others is a moveable skill. We have both office and shop floor based apprentices - they are not being trained to become Managing Directors (afterall it our MD that employs them) although some of them may do just like Tim did.
By the way Leroche many employers actually pay for the training direct and get no money from the "tax coffers" - those very same employers also pay taxes”
by Library_User
Monday, February 20 2012, 10:36AM
“Richard Graham's "apprentice" is what used to be called an office boy. He is not learning a trade. He won't automatically become an MP when he has "served his time". He is being duped.”
by Tim_Davenport
Monday, February 20 2012, 10:18AM
“Thanks Sheba!”
by Lecorche
Monday, February 20 2012, 10:09AM
“Sarah, You say vile,I say incisive.”
by Sheba2010
Monday, February 20 2012, 10:07AM
“Tim, I agree wholeheartedly – I work for a engineering firm, currently with 50 employees of which 4 are apprentices, 2 others have recently completed their apprenticeship and we are looking to take on another 2 in the near future. The company I work for (for over 20 years) has always had at least two apprentices (when I started there were about 20 employees) and they have always been offered permanent jobs. Our apprentices are paid above the minimum wage (currently a 1st year gets £5.18) and the rates are increased each year in line with all other staff.
It's not free to take on an apprentice – there are "hidden costs" (such as the loss of work from a member of staff who happens to be training) in addition to the obvious ones such as wages and college fees
In addition to all of that when you finish your apprenticeship you not only have a recognisable qualification you also have work experience and no education debts.
Yes there are employers out there who will exploit the system (just as they do with any other employee) but there are also many more who don't and who genuinely feel these youngsters are an asset.
There are no guarantees that you will get a job at the end - but neither are there any with a university degree - the difference being that you will have practical relevant experience and no debt, the university will have given you little or no relevant work experience and a large debt.”